He growls and snaps.
There is no dog scent.
No warm body.
No physical response.
Only a hard surface and an image that continues matching his movement.
Then Nico suddenly seems overwhelmed by the encounter.
He retreats.
He Doesn't Just Take One Step Back
Nico runs.
His body turns away from the glass.
He moves rapidly toward the opposite end of the space.
Sometimes he reaches the kennel area and stops there.
His breathing is faster.
He looks back.
For a moment, it appears he has chosen distance.
Then something changes.
Nico begins approaching again.
The Return Is Much Slower Than the Attack
That contrast becomes one of the strongest clues in his behavior.
The attack is explosive.
The return is cautious.
Nico stretches his head forward.
He may take several slow steps.
Pause.
Look.
Take another step.
He seems drawn back toward the exact thing that frightened him enough to make him run.
Then the “Other Dog” Approaches Too
Of course it does.
Nico takes another step.
His reflection takes one.
He stiffens.
The reflection stiffens.
Within seconds, his barking begins again.
Nico lunges.
Snaps.
Retreats.
Turns.
Comes back.
Staff Eventually Realize It Can Continue Over and Over
This is not a single startled response.
If the reflective surface remains exposed, Nico may repeat the sequence.
Approach.
Attack.
Retreat.
Check.
Return.
Attack again.
The loop does not reliably resolve itself.
That changes how staff respond to it.
Covering the Glass Stops the Cycle
When the reflective surface is blocked, the visual target disappears.
Nico may still approach the area.
He sniffs.